Rangers were booed off the pitch after losing to lowly Dundee United 2-1 yesterday and fell 15 points behind leaders Celtic in the Scottish Premier League (SPL) title race.

Manager Paul Le Guen was baffled by the defeat. "It is unbelievable to lose such a game," he told the BBC.

"I am so disappointed because we controlled the game. We had so many chances but we needed a second goal to be at ease... with a second goal I am convinced we would win the game."

Dundee United bounced back from a goal down to win with two goals inside five minutes and give new manager Craig Levein a dramatic debut day win.

Nacho Novo missed two first-half chances for Rangers while United came close with two efforts inside a minute.

Spanish forward Novo ran in on goal only to lob his shot over advancing keeper Derek Stillie and the crossbar from 15 metres. He then slashed a 10-metre shot across the face of goal from the right with only the keeper to beat.

Then United's Trinidad & Tobago forward Collin Samuel whipped in a low cross from the left which Bosnian defender Sasa Papac slid just past his own goal from six metres.

When the corner was cleared to the edge of the box United's David Robertson fired in a fierce volley which Rangers keeper Derek Stillie brilliantly turned away.

Rangers opened the scoring with a Charlie Adam goal on 50 minutes when he swept a six-metre shot beyond Stillie from Novo's low cross from the left.

United surged back with two goals from defenders to move off bottom place. Garry Kenneth headed a Barry Robson corner down and through keeper McGregor's legs at the back post on 77 minutes before Lee Mair glanced in a six-metre header for the winner from a deep Craig Conway free-kick.

Champions Celtic top the SPL standings with 34 points from 13 games after beating nearest rivals Hearts 2-1 on Saturday. Hearts have 21 while Rangers now have 19. United have 11 points.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are at home to Aberdeen tonight.